Political Education and Civic Engagement in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis of Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Youth Participation

Authors

  • Syed Rizwan Haider Bukhari PhD Scholar, Department of Political Science, Islamia College University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
  • Haider Ali Khan M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Political Science & International Relation, Qurtuba University of Science & Information Technology, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan
  • Dr. Amir Ullah Khan Chairman, Department of Political Science, Islamia College University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
  • Inam Ul Haq PhD Scholar, Department of Political Science, Islamia College University, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
  • Ejaz Hussian Independent Researcher, MS Strategic Studies National Defense University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.v-iv.24274

Keywords:

Education, Pedagogy, Civic Engagement, Youth Participation, Political Education

Abstract

The following study analytically discusses political literacy, citizenship and youth participation in the format of Pakistan education system. In this paper, the role of political education through the delivered and taught curricula in secondary and higher learning institutions is discussed. Examining curricular content, teaching approaches, and political learning environment within and through institutions, the research maps areas of weakness in the development of civility, political awareness and education, and democratic citizenship engagement. Furthermore, it explores how extra curriculum activities, Youth Structuring Organizations and social networking sites influence the political dispositions of the youths of Pakistan. From interviews conducted with various educators, policymakers, as well as on the content analysis of the textbooks and teaching materials, the study uncovers a subject-.object relationship which situates state democracy and the youth’s emancipative democracy in conversation. On this premise, the study postulates that contrary to the belief that formal education , youth has few avenues to exercise critical political engagement, information channels including activism, social networks, and civil society structures are central in fostering political participation among youths. Finally, this analysis presents proposals for enhancing the causes of political education to enhance youth capabilities and agency to participate effectively in Pakistani politics and other related activities.

References

Asma, O., & Rauf, M. B. (2024). Pakistani Youth and Political Awareness: A Review of Pakistani Universities. Journal of Education And Humanities Research (JEHR), University of Balochistan, Quetta, 17(1), 183–197. http://journal.uob.edu.pk/journal/index.php/jehr/article/view/483

Aziz, M., Bloom, D. E., Humair, S., Jimenez, E., Rosenberg, L., & Sathar, Z. (2014). Education system reform in Pakistan: Why, when, and how? IZA policy paper. https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/91762

Bano, S. R., Bilal, M., & Azam, S. (2021). DIGITAL ACTIVISM AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT OF PAKISTANI YOUTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: A NETNOGRAPHIC EXPLORATION. Pakistan Journal of Society, Education & Language, 8(1), 247–259. https://pjsel.jehanf.com/index.php/journal/article/view/628

Bari, F. (2021). Pakistan’s education reform test. Current History, 120(825), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2021.120.825.133

Bosso, D. (2017). Teacher Morale, Motivation and Professional Identity: Insight for Educational Policymakers from State Teachers of the Year. Teacher Researcher Policy Paper Series. National Network of State Teachers of the Year. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED581425

Darling-Hammond, L., & McLaughlin, M. W. (2011). Policies That Support Professional Development in an Era of Reform. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/003172171109200622

Dean, B. L. (2005). Citizenship education in Pakistani schools: Problems and possibilities. International Journal of Citizenship and Teacher Education, 1(2), 35.

Dean, B. L. (2007). The state of civic education in Pakistan. Aga Khan Univ., Inst. for Educational Development (AKU-IED).

Hahn, C. (1998). Becoming political: Comparative perspectives on citizenship education. Suny Press.

Hinnant-Crawford, B. (2016). Education Policy Influence Efficacy: Teacher Beliefs in Their Ability to Change Education Policy. International Journal of Teacher Leadership, 7(2), 1–27. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1137496.pdf

Huang, Y.-S., & Asghar, A. (2016). Science education reform in confucian learning cultures: Policymakers’ perspectives on policy and practice in Taiwan. Asia-Pacific Science Education, 2(1), 1–22. https://brill.com/view/journals/apse/2/1/article-p1_3.xml

Idowu, S. O. (2017). Implementation of the Nigerian civic education curriculum to develop effective citizenship in young learners: Stakeholders perspectives [PhD Thesis]. Brunel University London. https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/14193

Iqbal, M., Mahmood, A., & Iqbal, M. Z. (2023). Analysis of Pakistan Studies curriculum for secondary classes in the context of civic education. Voyage Journal of Educational Studies, 3(2), 163–176. https://doi.org/10.58622/vjes.v3i2.56

Kadiwal, L., & Durrani, N. (2018). Youth negotiation of citizenship identities in Pakistan: Implications for global citizenship education in conflict-contexts. British Journal of Educational Studies, 66(4), 537–558. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2018.1533099

Khalid, S. M., & Khan, M. F. (2006). Pakistan: The State of Education. Muslim World, 96(2). https://www.academia.edu/download/51426863/j.1478-1913.2006.00130.x20170119-13090-j5e6z2.pdf

Khan, M. Y., Javeed, A., Khan, M. J., Din, S. U., Khurshid, A., & Noor, U. (2019). Political participation through social media: Comparison of Pakistani and Malaysian youth. IEEE Access, 7, 35532–35543. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8666105

Khan, N. U. (2022). Countering Extremism in Pakistani Youth: Effective Strategies for Reform. FGEI International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (FIJMR), 1(1), 01–10. https://www.ojs.fijmr.com/index.php/ojs/article/view/29

Lall, M. (2009). Education dilemmas in Pakistan. Education as a Political Tool in Asia, 179–197.

Lall, M. (2012). Why education matters: School ‘choice’ and differing views on citizenship in Pakistan. Citizenship Studies, 16(2), 269–286. https://doi.org/10.1080/13621025.2012.667619

Lall, M. (2014). Engaging the youth – citizenship and political participation in Pakistan. Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 52(4), 535–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/14662043.2014.959288

Maguire, S. (2019). Citizen Engagement in Pakistan. DFID. Retrieved from https://assets. publishin g. service. gov. uk/media …. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ee345dbd3bf7f1eb5fef728/Citizen_Engagement_in_Pakistan_final_for_publishing_rev_KII_redacted.pdf

Muhammad, Y. (2019). Pakistani National Identity, Curriculum Reform and Citizenship Education Textbooks: Understanding Teachers’ Perspectives. Journal of Research & Reflections in Education (JRRE), 13(1). https://ue.edu.pk/jrre/articles/article13110.pdf

Munir, A. J., & Zaidi, Z. H. (2023). Institutionalizing Civic Engagement through Skilled Civic Education: A Critical Analysis of Youth Development and Education Policies in Punjab Pakistan. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 9(4), 527–538. https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v9i4.2863

Muzaffar, M., Hussain, B., Javaid, M. A., Khan, I. U., & Rahim, N. (2020). Political Awareness in Educational Policies of Pakistan: A Historica Review. J. Pol. Stud., 27, 257. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/jlo27&div=18&id=&page=

Nasser, A., Kyriazi, T., Paris, C. M., & Ahmad, M. (2018). Impact of identity politics on education in Pakistan: A comparison between Balochistan and Punjab. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 13(3), 280–294. https://doi.org/10.1177/1746197917743954

Nguyen, H. C. (2019). An investigation of professional development among educational policy-makers, institutional leaders and teachers. Management in Education, 33(1), 32–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/0892020618781678

Sain, Z. H. (2023). Revitalizing Education in Pakistan: Challenges and Recommendations. International Journal of Higher Education Management, 9(2). https://ijhem.com/cdn/article_file/2023-09-04-09-46-49-AM.pdf

Saud, M., & Ashfaq, A. (2024). Shift from Traditional to Contemporary Political Patterns: Knowing the Youth Perspectives on Political Participation. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 00219096241235292. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096241235292

Saud, M., Ida, R., & Mashud, M. (2020). Democratic practices and youth in political participation: A doctoral study. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 800–808. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2020.1746676

Shafique, N. (2024). Challenges to Enhance Youth Political Engagement in Pakistan. Insights of Pakistan, Iran and the Caucasus Studies, 3(1), 46–57. http://ipics.rmrpublishers.org/index.php/primarycontent/article/view/62

Shahzad, S., & Omar, B. (2021). Social network matters: The influence of online social capital on youth political participation in Pakistan. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 18(4), 430–442. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2021.1900018

Timperley, H., & Alton-Lee, A. (2008). Reframing Teacher Professional Learning: An Alternative Policy Approach to Strengthening Valued Outcomes for Diverse Learners. Review of Research in Education, 32(1), 328–369. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X07308968

Ullah, A., & Khan, M. (2023). Political Instability and its Implications on Public Policy: A Comprehensive Analysis of Governance Transitions and their Effect on Educational Policies in Pakistan. The Lighthouse Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 81–96. https://kpheart.edu.pk/ojs/index.php/ljss/article/view/106

Warraich, S. K., & Ahmed, U. (2024). Empowering Youth: Catalysts for Effective Governance in Pakistan. Journal of Development and Social Sciences, 5(2), 353–365. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2024(5-II-S)50

Westheimer, J., & Kahne, J. (2004). What Kind of Citizen? The Politics of Educating for Democracy. American Educational Research Journal, 41(2), 237–269. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312041002237

Wiseman, A. W. (2010). The Uses of Evidence for Educational Policymaking: Global Contexts and International Trends. Review of Research in Education, 34(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X09350472

Yasir, A., Baloch, M., & Hassan, A. A. U. (2023). Disengagement of Youth with Student Politics in Pakistan: A Study of the Experiences of Politically Engaged Students. Research Journal for Societal Issues, 5(3), 274–284. https://doi.org/10.56976/rjsi.v5i3.155

Downloads

Published

2024-12-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Bukhari, S. R. H., Khan, H. A., Khan, A. U., Haq, I. U., & Hussian, E. (2024). Political Education and Civic Engagement in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis of Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Youth Participation. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 5(4), 234-247. https://doi.org/10.55737/qjssh.v-iv.24274